Cincinnati extends Jones for three years

Head football coach Butch Jones received year contract extension from Cincinnati on Tuesday.

The extension runs through the 2017 season.

"I have tremendous faith in Coach Jones and his ability to lead our young men on the football field, in the classroom and in the community," athletic director Whit Babcock said. "I appreciate his loyalty to the University of Cincinnati and we look forward to great things in future seasons."

Jones took over for Brian Kelly in 2010 after he left to become the head coach of Notre Dame. Jones had big shoes to fill as Kelly led the Bearcats to back- to-back Big East titles and BCS Bowl appearances from 2008-2009.

Jones guided Cincinnati to just four wins in his first year, but followed it up with a 10-win season in 2011 where the Bearcats won a share of the Big East title and defeated Vanderbilt in the Liberty Bowl.

"I'm very grateful of the support shown from UC President Dr. Gregory Williams, the UC Board of Trustees and director of athletics Whit Babcock," Jones said. "This a commitment to our staff and to the football program as a whole. It's another illustration of the tremendous support our administration as we continue to work on a daily basis to build a college football program of national relevance."

This isn't the first time Jones has replaced Kelly as head football coach of a FBS program, having taken over at Central Michigan after Kelly left for the Cincinnati position in 2007.

In Jones' three years at Central Michigan, the Chippewas went 27-13, winning MAC Championships in 2007 and 2009.